A Heated Debate Between Two Charismatic Geniuses: A Cardinal Fan (Jeff Lung) and a Tiger Fan (Allen Krause)

Results tagged ‘ Sam Cooke ’

“It’s been a long time coming, but tonight, because of what we did on this day, in this election, at this defining moment, change has come to America.”

-Barack Obama, 44th President of the United States of America

Whenever I listen to Sam Cooke sing “A Change is Gonna Come,” I get a little shiver up and down my spine. The same thing happened Tuesday night as President Elect Obama channelled the soul of this fellow Chicagoan in his already famous speech to supporters in Grant Park.

Without a doubt, Election Day 2008 heralded a sea change in American politics. Don’t get me wrong. I’m a realist. I don’t think that President Obama will be able to accomplish in four years all that he promised over the course of a 21 month campaign. But, hope still springs eternal. And if nothing else, he has redefined the rules of the game.

However, moving beyond the rhetoric and the fascination with this singular event in our nation’s history, what would I like to see happen?

Yes, there are more important challenges at hand (the economy, our incoherent foreign policy, Indian pitchers) but forcing the hand of holdouts like Big Ten commissioner, James Delany, would endear Obama to even the most stubborn Republican voter. How could a Georgian not vote for a president who accomplished a playoff system after the travesty they believe befell their Bulldogs last season? And what SEC or Big 12 fan wouldn’t admit they had just a little more respect for a man who made sure their teams at least got a shot at the title every year.

However, I am a little worried. What if President Obama issues an Executive Order declaring that his hometown White Sox are to be champions of the AL Central every year that he’s in office, regardless of their record? Granted, I don’t expect the Tigers to put up much of a fight next year but what about 2 or 3 years from now, when they’ve had a chance to retool? Do I have to remind you that Ozzie Guillen is Venezuelan, just like Hugo Chavez. Coincidence? I think not.

But, for now, while the world still seems like a land of wonder and opportunity, I think I’ll just focus on what has happened and what it means.

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